Device for use in exterminating grain weevils



April 2, 1935. R. R. REPPERT 1,996,347

DEVICE FOR USE IN EXTERMINATING GRAIN WEEVILS Filed April 24; 1954 INVENT :1R RUYRREPPERT ATTDRNEYS Patented Apr. 2, 1935 PATENT OFFICE DEVICE FOR USE IN EXTERIWINATING GRAIN WEEVILS Roy R. Reppert, Bryan, Tex. Application April 24, 1934-, Serial No. 722,216

2 Claims.

(Granted under the act 'of March 3, 1883, as

amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) This application is made under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended by the act of April 30, 1928, and the invention herein described, if patented, may be manufactured and used, by or for the Goverment for governmental purposes without payment to me of any royalty thereon. This invention relates to a device for use in the treatment of peas, beans, corn, and other grains, especially co-Wpeas, with heat for the purpose of destroying weevils and other insects infesting same, in all their stages, adult, larva, pupa, and egg-yet so the peas or grain may be used for food or for planting. An added purpose of the machine is the removal of excess moisture from grains or other materials Whose nature makes it possible to pass them through the machine. 1

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specication, with the understanding, however, that while the drawing illustrates a practical form of the invention, it may-be otherwise embodied in practical form, especially as regards the number of successive spirals, and, therefore, the invention is not limited to the exact structure illustrated.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a view of the inner rotatable cylinder. cut away in parts to ex-4 pose the successively central spiral systems and enclosing shells, the Whole mounted upon a shaft to support it in an oven casing and through which any convenient sourse of power, whether by electric motor, gas engine, spring motor, or hand power, may be imparted to cause the cylinder to rotate at the proper rate of speed, and Figure 2 is a view of a cross section of the oven through its median part, illustrating in detail the operation of the Ventilating doors by means 40 of a thermostat, and Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective end view of the spiral chambers illustrating the means by which materials are discharged from one chamber to the next inward chamber.

In the drawing identical parts are designated by the same numbers throughout. Taking up these parts in detail: I designates an axis for the support of the cylinders in the oven 23, horizontally mounted on proper bearings, and to which power is to be applied. 2 shows the innermost spiral, closely aflixed to and extending outwardly from shaft I. 3 is a cylindrical shell of perforated metal sheet,` closely enveloping 2 and to which is closely aflixedin turn the spiral 4 reversed in direction to spiral 2. In like manner shell 5 envelops spiral 4, spiral B is applied to shell 5, shell 1 envelops spiral 6, spiral 8 is applied to shell'l and shell 9 envelops spiral 8 as the final and outermost casing of the cylinder. Each spiral is reversed in direction to that i 5 preceding and that succeeding. The encasing shells are perforated throughout as well as end plate 9' and such part of end plate IU as is not cut out for purposes of feed and delivery.

I2 at the right end of Figure 1 is an extension 10 of shell 9 beyond the end plate I0. A iiange of sheet metal I3 applied to the edge of I2 in the manner indicated in the drawing furnishes a receptacle into which the grain is delivered by chute I4, passing through the end of the-oven and con- 15 nected with a hopper outside the oven. Spiral 8 takes its load of grain from this receptacle at eachrevolution. Il) is the end plate covering ends of spirals 4 and 6. II is an extension of rotating shell 3 enclosed by a non-movable collar 2o 26 opening downward with the non-movable spout I5 into which the grain is finally delivered from the spiral 2 and carried outside the oven.

24 shows the method of applyingheat, which is the essential means of destroying weevil in this 25 machine. While the source of heat here illustrated is a gas jet, it may be generated from any practical source, as electricity, steam pipes, or directly from wood or coal. In rural sections, small machines of this type may be operated by small 80 gas engines and the exhaust utilized for heating.

25 is a deecting plate by means of which currents of hot air are carried upward along the outer walls of the oven 23 into the space enveloping cylinder 9. As the temperature in this space rises, thermostat I9 of double metal curves inward, operating through pin I8 to swing door I6 inward at the bottom and outward at the top, thus deflecting the hot air from the heat source to the outside and permitting overheated air about the cylinder to escape until the thermostat straightens closing the door and again allowing hot air to envelop the cylinder. Door I6 is balanced on rod I 'I extended beyond the oven on the nonfeed end and continued upward at right angles asv extension arm 28. A door on the opposite side of the oven is mounted on a like extended rod, but with arm turned downward. Rod 21 connecting these two arms at points 29 opens and closes the two doors in unison by the action of the one thermostat.

Thermometer 20, extending into the space surrounding the cylinder, enables one to determine the temperature to which the grain is exposed. Thermostat I9 is pivoted at median point 2| and a thumb screw 22 at the end of I9 opposite its point of attachment I8 to the door I6 enables one to so adjust this that any desired temperature may be maintained. Having secured such gross adjustment of the source of heat as circumstances provide, as for instance steam valves or gas cutoffs, fine adjustment to maintain heat within practical limits is secured by use of thumb screw 22.

Means of delivering grain from one system of spirals to the next inward is illustrated in Figures 1 and 3 in which the two outer spirals are taken as an example. 9 represents the end plate. In the illustration, spirals 6 and 8 meet this plate along the same radial line. Shell l, separating spirals 6 and 8 meets plate 9' at only the radial line referred to above. For the rest of its circumference, it is cut off even with the inner edge of spiral 8 as this is followed upward and forward, then downward to a point diametrically opposite said radial line, where spiral 6 crosses beneath spiral 8. From this point, however, instead of following spiral 8, the shell 1 is cut so as to follow the outer edge of spiral 6 back to said radial line. 'I'he maximum distance of this cut edge of shell l from the end plate will be at the point where spiral 6 crossed beneath spiral 8 and will be half that of the interval between two spirals 'of the same system. Through the opening provided by this cut-out 'l' in shell 1, delivery of the grain is provided from the one spiral to the other. A similar cut-out of shell next to plate I 0 at the other end of the device delivers from spiral 6 to spiral 4, and a cut-out in shell 3 next to plate 9' at the left end permits delivery from spiral 4 to spiral 2.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

1. A device for use in treating cereals, grains and other commodities with heat comprising an oven, a shaft rotatively mounted horizontally within the oven, a series of successive and concentric spiral members, the inner spiral member being rigidly attached to and extending outwardly from said shaft, a series of perforated cylindrical shells closely enveloping each spiral member and separating it from the Aadjoining spiral member, the spiral members being concentrically arranged and alternately reversely pitched and rigidly attached at their inner edges to and extending outwardly from the adjoining cylindrical shell whereby successive spiral conveyor chambers are formed longitudinally to and spaced radially from the shaft, connecting means, upon the rotation of said shaft, spiral members, and cylindrical shells, to permit the passage at the alternate ends of the conveyor chambers of the contents of each spiral conveyor chamber inwardly to the adjoining conveyor chamber, chute means descending through one end of the oven and opening into the outer spiral conveyor chamber, chute discharge means associated with the inner spiral chamber and passing through the same end of the oven, means to apply heat to said cylindrical shells, adjustable closure members in the walls of the oven and thermostat means to control the opening and closing of said closure members.

2. A device for use in treating cereals, grains and other commodities with heat comprising an oven, a shaft rotatively and horizontally mounted within the said oven, a series of perforated spiral'conveyor chambers disposed coaxially of said shaft and secured thereto for rotation therewith, said spiral chambers being concentrically arranged and alternately reversely pitched, means lfor introducing commodities into one end of the outer spiral chamber, means at the other end of said chamber affording a passage for said commodities from said chamber to the adjacent concentric spiral chamber, like passage means between successive conveyor chambers in the series, means for discharge of said commodities from the last conveyor chamber in the series adjacent said end at which said commodities are introduced, means to apply heat to the spiral conveyor chambers, Ventilating openings in the walls of the oven, cooperating adjustable closure members associated with the openings and thermostat means to control the opening and closing of the closure members.

ROY R. REPPERT. 

